1 A nd it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah on the fourth of the ninth month, in Chislev,

And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah on the fourth of the ninth month, in Chislev,

2 w hen Bethel had sent Sherezer and Regem-melech, and his men, to supplicate Jehovah,

when Bethel had sent Sherezer and Regem-melech, and his men, to supplicate Jehovah,

3 t o speak unto the priests that were in the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done now so many years?

to speak unto the priests that were in the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done now so many years?

4 A nd the word of Jehovah of hosts came unto me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah of hosts came unto me, saying,

5 S peak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh, even those seventy years, did ye really fast unto me, unto me?

Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh, even those seventy years, did ye really fast unto me, unto me?

6 A nd when ye ate, and when ye drank, was it not you that were eating and drinking?

And when ye ate, and when ye drank, was it not you that were eating and drinking?

7 A re not these the words that Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and at peace, and her cities round about her, when the south and the lowland were inhabited?

Are not these the words that Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and at peace, and her cities round about her, when the south and the lowland were inhabited?

8 A nd the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah, saying,

9 T hus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew loving-kindness and mercies one to another,

Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew loving-kindness and mercies one to another,

10 a nd oppress not the widow and the fatherless, the stranger and the afflicted; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

and oppress not the widow and the fatherless, the stranger and the afflicted; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

11 B ut they refused to hearken, and turned a rebellious shoulder, and made their ears heavy, that they should not hear.

But they refused to hearken, and turned a rebellious shoulder, and made their ears heavy, that they should not hear.

12 A nd they made their heart an adamant, that they should not hear the law, and the words that Jehovah of hosts sent by his Spirit by the hand of the former prophets: therefore was there great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.

And they made their heart an adamant, that they should not hear the law, and the words that Jehovah of hosts sent by his Spirit by the hand of the former prophets: therefore was there great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.

13 A nd it came to pass, like as he called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear, saith Jehovah of hosts;

And it came to pass, like as he called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear, saith Jehovah of hosts;

14 a nd I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not, and the land was desolate after them, so that no one passed through nor returned; and they laid the pleasant land desolate.

and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not, and the land was desolate after them, so that no one passed through nor returned; and they laid the pleasant land desolate.